House Training

[Jammer1973]

Ok thank you so much for the insight. I have had dogs all my life and this has never been a issue so that is why I am so frustrated. I really knew that Autumn had not properly potty trained her but that is the last thing I was going to say, kind of like asking her how much she weighs not gonna do it......lol

One last thing I am getting mixed reviews here, some of you say the pee pad is ok some say no. What do I do? I have never used these for my dogs but they are also not a Teacup Yorkie with a bladder the size of a nickle. The only problem I see is if we are gone all day I leave at 7 so does Autumn and we are not back till usually 6-7PM. To leave her in the crate for that long I would think is a little cruel but you tell me. That is why we just keep her in the bathroom with the pee pad. She is usually in her crate when we get home and there is never any damage.
Thanks-
James

[margot.]

Originally Posted by Jammer1973

Ok thank you so much for the insight. I have had dogs all my life and this has never been a issue so that is why I am so frustrated. I really knew that Autumn had not properly potty trained her but that is the last thing I was going to say, kind of like asking her how much she weighs not gonna do it......lol

One last thing I am getting mixed reviews here, some of you say the pee pad is ok some say no. What do I do? I have never used these for my dogs but they are also not a Teacup Yorkie with a bladder the size of a nickle. The only problem I see is if we are gone all day I leave at 7 so does Autumn and we are not back till usually 6-7PM. To leave her in the crate for that long I would think is a little cruel but you tell me. That is why we just keep her in the bathroom with the pee pad. She is usually in her crate when we get home and there is never any damage.
Thanks-
James

I'd get a dog walker and forget the pee pads for a while and crate her... If you can't get a dog walker or friend to come take the dog out...I guess I'd do the bathroom/pee pad thing, but eek...I think you need to get SOMEONE to take her out during the day...it'll REALLY help with the housetraining.

[medusa512]

you are saying "teacup." i have a "teapot" and he can normally make it that long.
maybe you could look into a doggie litterbox for her. Edgar always always chewed up the pee pads, even if he didn't pee on them. and my husband doesn't want me leaving them down because if they are there than "he'll think it's acceptable to go in the house."

also, enlist your gf's help. it's easy to be in denial if you are afraid of being forced to lose your puppy! (i should know) maybe she'll understand if you say something like, "i know how much you love her and i need your help with training." you could even mention you were doing research (omg if my husband said he was doing research on yorkies i would flip!!) and have found that if you xxx it helps because xxx. "let's try for a while and see if that works."
just like a child if one parent is lenient and the other is firm, confusion ensues.

also, who cleans it up? regardless of which dog (or my one child) vomits, poos, or pees in the house, I'M the one who cleans it up. so i know how important it is to give edgar (Mr. Separation Anxiety) toys to play with while we're gone. i have also learned that he really really likes to have 2-3 walks a day. if i don't walk him before i leave or before i go to bed he gets upset and won't hold it.

you seem to be a great guy and are making a great "puppy daddy!"

edit: crate might be too small. try an "x-pen." it's like a gated play area

[Jammer1973]

Teacup, I thought that is what she called her... She weighs maybe 3 lbs soaking wet.....
She knows how frustrated I am and that I am trying to figure out to solve te porblem.
As far a dicipline goes I let Autumn dispence that since it is her dog I do not fell comfortable taking those reigns. Like your husband I am not a fan of the pee pad, AT ALL. I guess I will talk to her about getting a dog walker and if she does not go for that I guess we will go for a dog litter box.
Any other suggestions.

[medusa512]

Originally Posted by Jammer1973

Teacup, I thought that is what she called her... She weighs maybe 3 lbs soaking wet.....
She knows how frustrated I am and that I am trying to figure out to solve te porblem.
As far a dicipline goes I let Autumn dispence that since it is her dog I do not fell comfortable taking those reigns. Like your husband I am not a fan of the pee pad, AT ALL. I guess I will talk to her about getting a dog walker and if she does not go for that I guess we will go for a dog litter box.
Any other suggestions.

yeah, teacup= tiny, teapot (a YT term)=people ask you if they're really a yorkie and piss you off b/c they assume you have a mix! (edgar is like 13lbs).

also, if you do praising and training you will become more "Alpha" in the mix. this will help her learn she can come to you and do the pee-pee stare/dance/whine/shake the bell on the doorknob...

with it being summertime, you could probably get a trusted teen to walk her 1-2x a day for not much money. (your neighbor's kid, etc.)
then during the school year if they come straight home, it could work the same. make sure tho, you have tags on her!!

[AMMARI]

I completely agree. I posted here about 2 weeks ago B/C I was having trouble potty trainig Sammy, and I followed most of the above and happy to say Sammy has been going on the pad consistently pee and poo for about a week now. At first he didn't want to go, so I put the leash on him and waited there, sometimes, up to 35 minutes till he got the point and went, then praise like crazy, treats, etc.. After every meal, I tied him to me, so it would be easier to keep an eye, and as soon as I saw him sniffing or hunching his back, immediately to the pad, well, he got it. I'm so excited!! but yeah, I learned that if you are consistent, praise, and ALWAYS keep an eye on her she should learn. They learn fast..Sammy always looks at my hands after he goes on the pad to see what I have for him! Good and Thank You everyone else for your help.

Mari

[AMMARI]

One last thing I am getting mixed reviews here, some of you say the pee pad is ok some say no. What do I do? I have never used these for my dogs but they are also not a Teacup Yorkie with a bladder the size of a nickle. The only problem I see is if we are gone all day I leave at 7 so does Autumn and we are not back till usually 6-7PM. To leave her in the crate for that long I would think is a little cruel but you tell me.


It just seems that she's confused now. I think you need to make a choice if you want her to go inside or out.

[sims822257]

Originally Posted by margot.

1. crate training is NOT cruel - obviously, you want her to be happy in the crate and you can't leave her in there for too long, but crate training my pup was the best thing I ever did - he was 99% house trained in 2 weeks. Plus, she'll learn to let you know when she has to go.

2. sometimes pee pads can be tricky, I personally don't use them because: (A) I dont want him to EVER think that peeing and pooing inside is OK. Period. and (B) i've heard SOME yorkies get confused about where to go and still other yorkies prefer the pee pads and dont like going outside.

3. Feed her on a schedule, she'll go on a schedule too. Dont let her free feed until she's 100% house trained. She's a dog and she won't starve herself, give her food for 20 min. and take it away, regardless of whether or not she's eaten it (just more for next time) she'll learn that she's gotta eat her food when it's put down

4. Buy a large bottle of Nature's Miracle - if you haven't been using that on anything she's peed or pooped on - it's pretty much your fault these accidents have been happening. It's the only stuff that will get rid of the smell completely. She pees and poops wherever, smells it later and thinks, Oh-here's a spot to go!

5. I'd bring it back to basics and give her some really yummy treats when she goes outside. I'd hold off on the doggy door (because when she goes outside and pees or poops you wont be there to see it and reward her) for now - she's not ready for it. She needs to know that going outside is the best thing ever and it will get her lots of praise and a yummy treat (Natural Balance has great treats that smell gross to us, but delicious to dogs).

6. The whole back to basics includes taking her out and if she doesn't pee or poop putting her in the crate. TRUST me, she'll let you know when she's gotta go. Also, I move my crate around to wherever I am so that Banksy can go in and out as he pleases and so he doesnt feel lonely if I'm home and he's in there.


Finally, read this: http://www.doggonegood.org/housebreaking.html
It works, I promise.

WOW....That was a great article - thanks for the website advice. I have 2 yorkies one is almost 2 and one is about 1 1/2 and they are both about 75% potty trained.
I am always looking to improve their potty training though so this was very helpful. Thanks again!!